Way Off Topic - Mattresses

Bird · Aug 5, 2002

Ours has the "digital" remotes with the lighted (or "lit"?) number displays, but we had a choice of a single wireless remote (have to periodically replace a battery just like a TV remote and you both share it) or two wired remotes with the digital display. We elected to go with the two remotes; each have our own on our own side of the bed and no batteries to worry about. And I think they talk about numbers from 0 to 100, but it actually moves up or down in 5 number increments, so they could have made it 1 to 20 and had the same thing./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif But, yes, we like it and are going to keep it; went ahead and paid for it and gave away our old mattress and box springs and my wife's bought more "deep pocket" fitted sheets since our old mattress wasn't as thick as this one. However, I didn't have to modify the bookcase headboard since the overall height is not that much different from the old stuff; new mattress is thicker, but their "foundation" is not as thick.

frank_f15 · Aug 6, 2002

bird: kinda late to this thread, but we bought a select comfort matress about 5 years ago. split matress so the bride can have it her way and i can have it my way. we also have the digital remote . can't say enough about the matress. we love it. hope u enjoy yours.

patrickg · Aug 6, 2002

Bird, About 6-7 years ago my wife was complaining about waking up with a sore back. We were using a high qualilty extra firm mattress. We progressively added 1 then 2 then a 3rd egg crate foam pad on top. Sure helped but still not as good as we would like. I took her to a mattress store and had he lay on various mattresses. A sales person had her get on her side and showed me how straight her spine was which was an indication that the mattress supplied just the right flotation. I bought the mattress, we still use it, I love it, and she has not had a single back pain on getting up all these years. I paid $1000. The mattress is 100% latex foam and is thinner than a regular mattress and is like trying to move a 200 lb limp noodle without handles.

In 1997 I bought a new cabover camper with queen sized bed. Went to a mattress factory in San Diego that also sold factory direct to public. Asked about queen size in latex foam. They had 5 different densities of demo mattresses which they threw on a slab floor one at a time for me to try. I picked the one that seemed to match the "home unit" the best. They strongly suggested I bring the wife in for a trial prior to putting down a non-refundable deposit. I said I was sure here is the money, make the mattress. We put it in our camper and it works wonderfully, even when we lived in the camper for nearly 9 months prior to getting my mom's house ready for move in.

I'm sure there are lots of RIGHT mattresses but I have no incentive to look further. I'm happy and no more waking up with a sore back for my wife. I paid about 500 for the queen size at the factory. Too bad I didn't buy smart the first time but, oh well.

Regarding the two control air inflated mattress. A good friend had one. Nautilus, I believe. It has the "special foam" on top with a memory. He got the same results as we got with out latex but could have different firmness on each side. Luckily we don't need that.

Best of luck to you.

Patrick

Bird · Aug 7, 2002

Patrick, I did a little reading on the Internet about the latex mattresses, talked to the folks who make the S.A.M mattresses (self-adjusting mattress and I still don't really understand how their patented valves work), and got literature and videos from Select Comfort and Nautilus (Nautilus included a little sample of their special foam - don't remember what they called it, and I gave all their stuff to a neighbor yesterday). I didn't see a lot of difference in the Select Comfort and Nautilus except that Nautilus cost a little more and you can get it with two "pillow tops" (wool for winter warmth and I think silk for summer coolness) that can be unzipped, removed, and dry cleaned.

Glad you're happy with the latex and we're happy with the Select Comfort and that's all that matters./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

patrickg · Aug 7, 2002

Bird, If the TV advertisements are any indication then my wife and I should be in the Guiness book of world records! They portray every couple as having extremely different needs and desires regarding firmness of mattress. Luckily we are both well served and pleased with the same mattress. Otherwise, we too would be looking for one like you searched out. Sometimes we catch a break.

Patrick

pajoube · Dec 11, 2002

Bird,
Now that you have had almost 4 months on that new mattress, what are your thoughts regarding quaility?
PJ

Bird · Dec 11, 2002

PJ, I'm inclined to think there are probably others just as good, like the Nautilus perhaps, but as far as I know so far, none better than this one. We're well pleased with it, if it just holds up over the long term. Incidentally, I did my shopping on the Internet and telephone and selected and ordered this Select Comfort mattress, delivered by UPS, but since we've moved back to town, I've already been in two different shopping malls with my wife which had Select Comfort stores. I asked the salesman in one of them whether they were franchise or company owned and he said they are all company owned.

StoneHeartFarm · Dec 11, 2002

Bird,

Having slept on all three types of matress, I can honestly say, go with a conventional matress, bought through a reputable dealer.

There is a store a couple of hours North of here that used to buy commercial time and use it like 30 second infomercials. If these guys were telling me the truth (?) the big difference in the quality of construction between the different grades of matress is how the springs are held together inside. Apparently, they can be wired together, clamped together or tied together. Hand tied is supposedly the most expensive construction, but also the best for sleeping on, since the material the is used to tie the springs together will stretch and give a bit whereas wire or metal clamps will not. (This may have been an attempt to sell more expensive matresses). There are also a number of places selling "refurbs". (according to 60 minutes several years ago). Sometimes this process even involves removing the old covering before sewing a new one on. (Hence I mention "reputable" dealer).

It was also my understanding that all or almost all of the "S" brands (seeley, serta, etc), were owned by one company. Maybe some of the guys with plants in their towns could tell me if this is correct?

SHF

Bird · Dec 12, 2002

SHF, I think I've probably slept on just about all kinds in my lifetime, and until a few years ago, it really didn't make much difference to me; I could sleep just about anywhere./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif But now I think I'm better off with what we've got if it holds up and lasts as long as it's supposed to.